The Federal Government has launched a nationwide financial inclusion and literacy training programme targeting 10 million Nigerians, with priority given to women and young people.
The initiative was flagged off on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the Vice President, Nigeria can only harness its demographic dividend if youths and women are equipped with relevant skills and ethical foundations needed for a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The training is being implemented by the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).
The programme is designed to provide participants with financial management skills, investment knowledge and digital competencies to support sustainable wealth creation.
In another development, the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with six professional bodies to jointly deliver the initiative. The organisations include ICAN, CIBN, CIS, NICA, CRMI and NIIE.
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Speaking at the event, Shettima described the agreement as more than a formal partnership. He said it represents a strategic national investment in human capital and institutional capacity.
According to him, competence, trust and capability remain critical to achieving inclusive economic growth.
He also emphasised that professionals across accounting, banking, risk management and innovation sectors must work together to ensure financial inclusion translates into real economic participation.
Importantly, Shettima stressed that the programme prioritises women and youth participation.
He noted that Nigeria’s long-term economic growth depends on equipping young people with market-relevant skills and ethical standards.
While officially declaring the programme open, the Vice President urged implementing partners to treat the MoU as a living framework focused on delivery and measurable impact.
Earlier, ICAN President Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya praised the Federal Government’s economic reforms and described the training initiative as timely.
Similarly, WAWU Africa Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Lennox, pledged technical support for the programme, including the deployment of digital platforms to ensure effective implementation.
Also speaking at the event, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, said financial exclusion is driven not only by limited access but also by skills gaps and weak institutional capacity.
The event concluded with the formal signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the six professional bodies.
